1997 BMW 318IC Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 30, 1999 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 318IC years
Not enough data 5th of 6 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 318IC. That ranks 5th out of 6 318IC model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (1 complaints, 100%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1997 BMW 318IC problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Visibility1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Visibility1100%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

1997 BMW 318IC recalls (1)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Vehicle speed controlAug 19, 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V131000 · 410,000 vehicles

Problem: The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case, during application of the throttle pedal without cruise control being engaged, the outer tube could catch on the edge of the broken bushing.

Risk: This could cause the throttle valve to remain partially open. It his were to occur, the car might not decelerate as expected increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Windshield cracked. *yc

Visibility · received Feb 1, 1999 · NHTSA complaint 607189

Other BMW 318IC years

← 1996 318IC · 2000 318IC →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2003 318IC20
2001 318IC20
2000 318IC10
199711
1996 318IC21
1995 318IC43

See all BMW 318IC problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

Similar BMW models

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 318IC?

Owners most often report visibility problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 318IC?

Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1997 BMW 318IC a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318IC model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.